'Why I didn’t want my daughter to be a footballer' - Asisat Oshoala’s father reveals

The father of Super Falcons of Nigeria and FC Barcelona forward, Asisat Oshoala, has revealed that he attempted to hinder her from being a footballer because he desired that she got a formal education.

Alhaji Oshoala, in an interview with The BBC, said he didn’t see a bright future in the sport for his daughter, who has gone on to become the most successful Nigerian footballer in terms of club and individual honours. He noted that his plan was to make sure all his kids attained a high level of education and do better than their parents.

Asisat Oshoala however ignored her father’s advance and strived on till she got her first professional contract at a Nigerian local Women’s club, Robo, in 2009.

She moved on to Rivers United in 2013, where she won the 2014 Nigerian Women’s Championship. Luck further smiled on her and she got into mainstream Europe when she joined Liverpool in 2015.

28-year-old Oshoala bloomed in her chosen career path so much that in 2019, FC Barcelona spotted her great talent and signed her first on loan before permanently signing her months later.